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Establishment of a Refined Brain Model for Evaluating Implantation Behavior of Neural Electrode and Research of its Simulated behavior

用于评价神经电极植入行为的精细脑模型建立及其模拟行为研究

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Abstract

The long-term reliability of the neural electrode is closely related to its implantation behavior. In order to realize the quantitative research of the implantation behavior in a low-cost and accurate way, a refined brain model containing meninges is proposed. First, the expected simulation material was selected through measuring the elastic modulus based on the method of atomic force microscope indentation technique. As a result, the 2% (mass fraction) agarose gel simulated the gray and white matter, the 7 : 1 (volume ratio) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheet simulated the pia mater, and the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film simulated the dura mater. Second, based on designing a three-layer structure mold, the brain model was prepared by inverted pouring to realize a flat implantation surface. Finally, the simulation behavior of the brain model was investigated with the rat brain as a reference. For mechanical behavior of implantation, the implantation force experienced two peaks both in the brain model and the rat brain, maximum values of which were 10.17mN and 7.69mN respectively. The larger implantation force in the brain model will increase the strength requirement for the electrode, but reduce the risk of buckling of that in practical application. For humoral dissolution behavior, the dissolution rates of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating of the electrode in the brain model and rat brain were 7 000 μm3/s and 5 600 μm3/s, respectively. The faster dissolution rate in the brain model will cause the larger thickness of the coating design but provide sufficient implantable time in practical application. The establishment of the brain model and the research of its simulated behavior are beneficial to the size design of the electrode substrate and coating, and research of the implantation mechanism, and further increase the functional life of the electrode.

摘要

神经电极的长期可靠性与其植入行为密切相关. 为了以低成本和精确的方式实现神经电极植入行为的定量研究, 设计了一种包含脑膜的精细脑模型. 首先, 基于原子力显微镜压痕技术, 通过测量弹性模量选择符合预期的脑模型模拟材料. 结果表明, 2%琼脂糖凝胶用于模拟灰质和白质, 7:1聚二甲基硅氧烷薄片用于模拟硬脑膜, 聚氯乙烯薄膜用于模拟硬脑膜. 其次, 设计了具有三层结构的脑模型模具, 采用倒浇法制备脑模型, 可以获得较为平整的植入表面; 最后以大鼠脑为参照, 对脑模型的模拟行为进行了研究. 在植入力学行为上, 植入力曲线在脑模型和大鼠脑中均出现两个峰值, 其中较大峰值分别为10.17 mN和7.69 mN. 脑模型中植入力更大, 代表脑模型对电极的强度要求就越大, 但该特点在实际应用中降低了电极植入屈曲的风险. 对于体液溶解行为, 电极的PEG涂层在脑模型和大鼠脑中的溶解速率分别为7000 μm3/s和5600 μm3/s. 脑模型中更快的溶解速度会导致涂层设计的厚度更大, 但在实际应用中提供更充足的植入时间. 脑模型的建立及其模拟行为的研究有利于电极基底和涂层的尺寸设计、 植入机理的研究, 进一步提高电极的功能性寿命.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank the Instrumental Analysis Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University for the elastic modulus measuring on AFM, and the Laboratory Animal Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University for the help of experiments involving rat brain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Systems and Vibration, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Yuxin He  (贺雨欣), Wenguang Zhang  (张文光), Haotian Xu  (胥浩天), Yifan Xu  (徐倚帆) & Liyue Xu  (许李悦)

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  1. Yuxin He  (贺雨欣)
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  2. Wenguang Zhang  (张文光)
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  3. Haotian Xu  (胥浩天)
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  4. Yifan Xu  (徐倚帆)
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  5. Liyue Xu  (许李悦)
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Correspondence to Wenguang Zhang  (张文光).

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Foundation item: the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51675330)

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He, Y., Zhang, W., Xu, H. et al. Establishment of a Refined Brain Model for Evaluating Implantation Behavior of Neural Electrode and Research of its Simulated behavior. J. Shanghai Jiaotong Univ. (Sci.) 28, 401–410 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12204-022-2523-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12204-022-2523-5

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